Musical chairs facts for kids

Kids playing musical chairs at a party

Musical chairs is a really fun game often played at parties and events. It involves players, chairs, and music. The main idea is that there is always one less chair than there are players. When the music stops, everyone tries to find a seat. The player who doesn't get a chair is out of the game. Then, one chair is removed, and the game continues until only one player is left, who becomes the winner!

Sometimes, the phrase "musical chairs" is also used to describe a situation where people keep changing jobs or positions without much real progress. It's like a lot of shuffling around for no clear reason.

How to Play Musical Chairs

Women playing musical chairs in Bangladesh

Musical chairs is a game that's easy to set up and play. Here's how it works:

• Setting Up: You need a group of players and some chairs. Make sure you have one less chair than the number of players. For example, if you have 10 players, you'll need 9 chairs.
• Arranging Chairs: Place the chairs in a circle, with the backs of the chairs facing inward. The players will stand in a circle just outside the chairs.
• Starting the Music: Someone plays music, and the players start walking in a circle around the chairs. They should walk at a steady pace.
• Stopping the Music: Suddenly, the music stops! As soon as it stops, every player must quickly try to sit down in a chair.
• Elimination: The player who is left standing, without a chair, is out of the game.
• Removing a Chair: After a player is out, one chair is removed from the circle. This makes sure there's always one less chair than players.
• Continuing the Game: The music starts again, and the remaining players continue walking. This cycle repeats until only one player is left.
• The Winner: The last player to successfully grab a chair and stay in the game is the winner!

Long ago, this game was sometimes called "Trip to Jerusalem" or "Going to Jerusalem."

Fun Ways to Play: Musical Chairs Variants

The end of a game of the all-inclusive version, where everyone plays but nobody loses

There are a few different ways to play musical chairs, or games that are similar:

• Musical Bumps: Instead of chairs, players sit on the ground when the music stops. The last person to sit down is out.
• Musical Statues: In this game, players dance or move around while the music plays. When the music stops, everyone must freeze like a statue! If anyone is seen moving, even a little bit, they are out of the game.
• All-Inclusive Musical Chairs: This is a version where everyone gets to play, and nobody loses! In each round, one chair is removed, but no player is eliminated. The goal is for all players to find a way to "sit down" on the remaining chairs without their feet touching the floor. It becomes a fun challenge to fit everyone on fewer and fewer chairs!
• Extreme Musical Chairs: This version adds a twist! Before players can sit down, the person controlling the music gives them a task to complete. For example, they might have to do five jumping jacks or run and touch a wall before they can sit. Other times, players might have to hop, jump, walk backward, or dance while moving around the chairs.

See also

In Spanish: Juego de la silla para niños